Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

It’s that time of year again, time for warm pumpkin-spice lattes, glowing jack-o’-lanterns, and fun, spooky costumes. Halloween is here, and though the day and evening should be fun, it can also be frightening, especially for our pets.

Our dogs and cats can become more scared than be scary during this time of year. Between haunting music and flowing, glowing costumes, our animals may end up being more frightened than Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween!

The number one thing we can do to help our pets at this time of the year is to keep them safe and secure in our homes. With the doorbell ringing constantly by trick-or-treaters, the front door opening, and the get-ups those munchkins wear, our pets can bolt out the door in fear. So, keep your furry friends safe in a room in the house with comfortable bedding, familiar toys, and maybe some soft, soothing music playing.

Other ways to keep your pet safe on Halloween include:

Keep candy away from pets – if they eat it, they can be poisoned, as many types of human food are very harmful to animals.

Keep candles and lit jack-o’-lanterns out of your pets’ reach – no one wants a house fire.

Think of your cats especially regarding safety – pranksters and mischief-makers often do harm to cats on Halloween, another reason to keep pets securely indoors.

October is drawing to a close, and that means Halloween is on the horizon. While most kids, and many adults, enjoy this time of year, our pets can become agitated, frightened, even lost.

Here are a few safety tips to help your pets during the next few weeks:

Keep pets calm – there is a tremendous amount of activity during Halloween; that alone can stress out our pets, and sometimes costumed people can frighten them. Perhaps putting your pet(s) in a comfortable room, having your animal(s) wear a Thundershirt, or having soothing music (instead of loud, scary tunes) play are some avenues you can explore to keep your pet calm during this time.

Ensure your pets are safe – make sure collar and tags are on your pet and/or that your animal has a microchip in case it slips out the door. Opening and closing doors while handing out candy can cause your pet to escape; therefore, to ensure its safe return, make sure your pet’s ID tag and/or microchip is up-to-date with your current address and phone number.

Don’t let your pets eat the treats – candy and other goodies obtained from your children’s trick-or-treat bags (or left over from your handouts to neighborhood children) can be harmful to your pets. Make sure all Halloween people yummies are out of your pets’ reach.

Keep lit jack-o-lanterns out of reach – not only should you keep candy out of your pets’ reach, but also keep lit jack-o-lanterns away from your pets also. A tipped-over pumpkin that’s lit can easily start a fire.

Costumes can be spooky, both to see and to wear – Not only can the flurry of activity during Halloween be spooky to pets, but so also can be costumes worn. If you want your pet dressed for Halloween, don’t wait for the last minute to find out such attire scares your animal(s); try costumes on before Halloween (like this week). The ASCPA recommends if you do dress your pet for the big night, “make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard.”

The spookiest night of the year is just around the corner. Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls will be roaming about, and such scary sights and sounds can frighten and harm our beloved pets. Take some time to ensure your pet’s safety during Halloween by following a few simple tips:

Keep candy away from your furry friend. According to a recent press release issued by the Louisiana School of Veterinary Medicine, chocolate (especially the darker versions) can be dangerous, even deadly to pets. Other food-related items, such as raisins, grapes, and candy wrappers, can be harmful to our furry friends. If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these or other potentially hazardous items, contact the ASPCA’s (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Poison Control Hotline at (888) 426-4435.

Be cautious about costumes. Some pets stress out about being dressed up, so make sure you spend time having your animal adjust to the idea. Also, ensure your furry friend can see, move, and drink water while wearing the outfit.

Watch for potential escape. When trick-or-treaters come to the door, your dog or cat may try to make a break for it and run out the opening. Consider keeping your pet locked in another room until the evening’s festivities have concluded.

Various noises during this time of year can frighten our pets, so again, consider having your pet stay in a room away from all the activity and sounds. This may keep your furry friend calmer and safely indoors.

In case your pet does escape, prior to the night of a Halloween party at the house or trick-or-treaters coming to your door, make sure your furry friend is wearing a collar with identification tags. Your lost pet is more likely to be returned to you if it’s wearing an ID tag with up-to-date contact information. Microchipping also helps bring lost pets home, as long as the pet owner’s contact information is current.